Over the last couple of decades the republicans have gotten farther and farther away from the basic idea of fiscal conservatism. At one time the Republican party was about lower taxes and less government involvement in people's lives. Hardly something you could flag as "evil". But with the effective takover by the religious fundamentalist looney lobby, the party has been polluted with all kinds of whacko fascist attitudes, while giving at best lip service to the original basic ideals.

I know there are a lot of conservatives out there who cringe at what the republicans stand for now. Maybe they should start another conservative party, with one of the basic tenets being "no religious overtones".